Comparison

Hoshi Reader vs Aya Reader

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Hoshi Reader

This app is a lightweight Japanese EPUB reader designed for immersion learning. It features a pop-up dictionary with deinflection and supports Anki integration for vocabulary mining. Organize your library with bookshelves and track your reading progress.

Highlights
  • Vertical and horizontal reading modes
  • Yomitan-like pop-up dictionary
  • Anki mining support
  • Customizable Anki card format
  • Reading statistics
  • Bookshelves for library organization
  • Customizable themes and fonts
Features
Read full description

Hoshi Reader is a lightweight Japanese EPUB reader with a built-in pop-up dictionary and Anki mining support, made for immersion learning. Main Features: - Vertical (縦書き) and horizontal (横書き) reading modes - Yomitan-like pop-up dictionary with proper deinflection support - Support for all Yomitan term, frequency and pitch dictionaries - Dictionary audio support - AnkiMobile mining support - Fully configurable Anki card format, with most handlebars targeting Lapis implemented - Sasayaki (Audiobooks): Sync audiobooks to book text to read along - Reading statistics - ッツ Reader sync - Bookshelves to organize your library - Customizable theme, font and layout

About

Aya Reader

This app breaks down language barriers in reading by offering instant translations and natural-sounding text-to-speech narration. It supports multiple file formats and integrates seamlessly with your device for a focused reading experience.

Highlights
  • Cross-language translation
  • Text-to-speech narration
  • EPUB, PDF, TXT support
  • Background audio playback
  • System file integration
  • Adjustable speech rate
Features
Read full description

Aya Reader: A Cross-Language Swiss Army Knife for ReadersAya Reader: The Cross-Language "Swiss Army Knife" for Readers In an era of information equity, great ideas should not be constrained by language barriers. As e-readers become increasingly bloated and digital bookshelves grow more ornate, Aya Reader chooses to step back. We offer no flamboyant flourishes or crowded decorations. Aya is a pure "Swiss Army Knife" built for a singular purpose: removing the two biggest obstacles in reading—language boundaries and eye fatigue. 1. Global Original Works, Rendered in Your Native Tongue We believe translation should not be an interruption; it should be an extension of cognition. Bridge the Language Gap: No matter the source language, Aya Reader brings it into your native tongue with translation that is always within reach. Full-Chapter Semantic Flow: Leave fragmented word lookups behind. Our deep, full-chapter processing preserves paragraph logic and reading rhythm, allowing you to absorb global knowledge as fluently as a native text. 2. Natural, Life-like Narration (TTS) To liberate your eyes, we have refined the Text-to-Speech experience with obsessive care. Top-Tier Voice Engines: Integrated with EdgeTTS and native iOS voices, Aya provides a natural, "breathable" listening experience that remains stable and pleasant over long sessions. Viewport-Level Precision: A unique "Non-Auto-Flip" logic and a "Return to Current Position" button ensure your eyes always stay in perfect sync with the audio. True Background Playback: With deep support for Audio and AirPlay, your reading continues seamlessly during commutes or moments of rest, even with the screen off. 3. A Pure Tooling Foundation Universal Format Support: Gracefully handles EPUB, PDF, and TXT to cover your primary reading workflow. System-Level Integration: Forget heavy file shuffling. Aya respects your storage and instincts—simply tap a file in any app to launch it directly via the system "Open" action. The Beauty of Detail: From panel translucency to precise speech-rate increments and sleep timers, every UI adjustment exists to make the tool disappear and let the text emerge. Product Manifesto Aya Reader does not want to change how you read. It simply wants to smooth out the boundaries of language and stay with you through those hours of deep, uninterrupted focus. If you are tired of complex setups and redundant features—if you only want to finish a book with undivided attention or quietly listen through a translated chapter—then this "Swiss Army Knife" was made for you.If you are tired of complex setup and redundant features, and you only want to finish a book with undivided attention or quietly read through a translated chapter, then this Swiss Army knife was made for you.

Screenshots

Hoshi Reader4 screens
Aya Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Hoshi Reader at 20 against Aya Reader's 1. On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Hoshi Reader against 5.0 for Aya Reader. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hoshi Reader has 20 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Hoshi Reader versus Aya Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHoshi ReaderAya Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (20 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings20 — better1
Update frequencyWeeklyWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperManh-Hao Steffen Pham晓阳 陈

Customer experience

Hoshi Reader

All ratings20 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Aya Reader

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Hoshi Reader

No in-app purchases

None

Aya Reader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Hoshi Reader free?
Hoshi Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Aya Reader free?
Aya Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Hoshi Reader or Aya Reader?
Hoshi Reader and Aya Reader are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 20 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Hoshi Reader or Aya Reader have ads?
Neither Hoshi Reader nor Aya Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hoshi Reader or Aya Reader?
Hoshi Reader ships an update weekly, and Aya Reader weekly. Most recently, Hoshi Reader was updated on October 5, 2026 and Aya Reader on October 7, 2026.

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